by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

An Instagram snapshot captures DeSean Jackson flashing a hand signal purported to be a sign of allegiance to the notorious "Crips" gang.

It looks like a sideways peace sign, but if you look closely at his fingers they are curled in "C" shapes. One detail doesn't square with this ah-ha moment: Jackson is wearing a red California Angels baseball cap, the color of choice for another notorious rival gang - the "Bloods."

Crips don't go around wearing the color of the Bloods. Presumably, that L.A. gang culture tradition would also apply to those associated with one of the rival outfits or another.

Was Jackson flashing some serious gang sign while posing for multiple photographs or merely trying to be what he may perceive as cool? Regardless, it's not a good look about now.

When the Philadelphia Eagles abruptly released their most productive receiver on Friday - eschewing any idea of trying to get something in return during the six-week run-up to the NFL draft - the instant buzz revolved around Jackson's ties to two alleged gang members who are linked to two homicides.

A story posted by NJ.com connected some dots. Less than an hour later, Jackson was released.

The Eagles cut ties after Jackson's involvement with the alleged gang-bangers was publicly exposed. One of the men was acquitted in one murder and never charged in the second case; the other man was convicted and is serving 15 years to life.

With former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez facing murder charges and being investigated in another double homicide, the climate in the NFL with regard to the off-the-field association of players is one of high alert.

That's understandable. NFL teams are scared about the prospect of having some dramatic situation on their hands like the Patriots encountered.

But with the Eagles' heightened level of concern comes the question of profiling.

Jackson, 27, has largely avoided legal issues throughout his career, and there is no record that he's been involved in any sort of violent crime. That published insinuations about links to gangs is the last straw seems like a rush to dump a player without due process - unless something else is revealed.

Jackson reportedly was on the trade market for more than a month, albeit while carrying a fat salary.

Now the Eagles have punted the thought of getting anything in return.

We know it wasn't a pure football move. Since Jackson's name surfaced as trade bait in early March - and the Eagles didn't deny reports - it has seemed to be about other issues. Jackson is one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers, in his prime and coming off the best season of his career.

No, he hasn't always been the model of low-maintenance impact. He has missed meetings, stormed off the practice field and blew up on the sideline.

Yet Jackson had some of those issues in the past, and it didn't stop the Eagles from signing him to a five-year, $48.5 million contract extension two years ago.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly wasn't the one who drafted Jackson in the second round in 2008, and the mix between the two was problematic. Jackson wasn't Kelly's investment.

That Kelly is willing to dismiss his biggest playmaking receiver shows some enormous trust in his system, because suddenly he needs to replace a player who is tied for the most 30-plus yard TD receptions in the NFL over the past six seasons (21) and a guy who played more snaps (942) than any Eagles offensive skilled-position player last season.

Within hours of the release, Jackson's representatives maintained that six teams had already reached out to the receiver. Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera told USA TODAY Sports that he's interested, and it's a good bet that Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and New York Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, formerly of the Eagles, will check it out.

Reid, in fact, drafted Jackson and has been described by Jackson as a "father figure" â?? particularly striking when considering that Jackson lost his father in 2009 of pancreatic cancer.

Now it could be a matter of gathering some fresh intelligence.

Jackson didn't do himself any favors by posing for photographs with men of questionable character. But he surely isn't the only NFL player who could be fingered for that. That would be an extremely long lineup.

Perhaps there's another piece of the puzzle to explain the sudden departure.